Delhi HC issues notice in challenge to suspension of Section 10 IBC

The Delhi High Court today issued notice in a petition challenging the suspension of Section 10 of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016. (Rajiv Suri vs UOI)

On June 5, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 had suspended Section 10 IBC on account of COVID-19 for a period of six months starting March 25, 2020.

Notice to the Central Government and Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India was issued by a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan.

The petition, which is the nature of a public interest litigation, has been filed by one Rajiv Suri who was represented by Advocates Shiv Kumar Suri, Shikhil Suri, Shilpa Saini, Vinishma Kaul, Nikita Thapar.

Under Section 10 IBC, a corporate applicant could initiate corporate insolvency resolution process in respect of a default committed by itself.

It is the Petitioner's case that suspending the initiation of corporate insolvency resolution process under Section 10 by a corporate applicant is arbitrary, unjust, and malafide.

The Petitioner states that the suspension of Section 10 IBC would deprive a corporate applicant of an opportunity to revive, reorganize, and resolve itself and its debts in a time-bound manner.

Consequently, companies would be pushed into liquidation and cilvil litigation, defeating the objectives of IBC, it is apprehended.

It is thus contended that the suspension of Section 10 IBC violates the rights of a corporate debtor under Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.

The Petitioner has also highlighted that the Ordinance takes away the vested right of the corporate applicant with a retrospective effect which is invalid and is liable to be quashed.

ASG Chetan Sharma and Standing Counsel Amit Mahajan raised issues of maintainability of the petition. The Court, however, directed them to submit the same by way of the Centre's response to the petition.

The matter would be heard next on August 31.